Encapsulated additives for use in subterranean formation operations

Abstract

Compositions, methods, and systems including an encapsulated additive comprising a treatment fluid additive at least partially encapsulated by an encapsulating material. The encapsulated additive has a target release profile for release of the treatment fluid additive from the encapsulating material in a specific wellbore environment. The encapsulating material is selected to achieve the target release profile, the target release profile being based on one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of: (1) a target anisotropic pressure that is greater than both an injection anisotropic pressure and an injection isotropic pressure, (2) an erosion number, (3) a temperature-driven degradation, (4) a pressure-driven degradation, (5) an amphiphilic water dispersibility, (6) an amphiphilic oil dispersibility, (7) a chemical flood degradation, (8) a water ingress value, and, (9) a radiation-driven degradation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising:
 an encapsulated additive comprising a treatment fluid additive at least partially encapsulated by an encapsulating material,
 wherein the encapsulated additive has a target release profile for release of the treatment fluid additive from the encapsulating material in a specific wellbore environment, and 
 wherein the encapsulating material is selected to achieve the target release profile, the target release profile being based on one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a target anisotropic pressure that is greater than both an injection anisotropic pressure and an injection isotropic pressure, 
 (2) an erosion number, 
 (3) a temperature-driven degradation, 
 (4) a pressure-driven degradation, 
 (5) an amphiphilic water dispersibility, 
 (6) an amphiphilic oil dispersibility, 
 (7) a chemical flood degradation, 
 (8) a water ingress value, and, 
 (9) a radiation-driven degradation. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of treatment fluid additives are agglomerated with a binder prior to encapsulation with the encapsulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the encapsulating material is selected to achieve the target release profile. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating material is selected based on an erosion number of the encapsulating material such that the encapsulating material demonstrates predominately surface erosion. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid additive is an explosive particulate, a lubricant, a biocide, a hydrogen sulfide scavenger, a breaker, a proppant, an oxygen scavenger, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid additive is in liquid form and is adsorbed onto a surface of a high surface area particle, and the encapsulating material encapsulates the high surface area particle having the treatment fluid additive adsorbed thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyanhydride, a polyamide, a polyketal, a polyphosphazene, a poly(anhydride ester), a polyacrylic acid, a polyacrylate, a polyacrylic acid-polyacrylate copolymer, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(isobutylmethacrylate), poly(bis-ethoxyphosphazene), polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polycaprolactone, polyvinylacetate, polyethylene, polyethylene, polyethyleneimine, polyethylene glycol, polyethyleneimine-polyethylene glycol co-polymer, guar gum, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated material is spray coated about an outer surface of the treatment fluid additive. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated additive is in a treatment fluid. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 introducing an encapsulated additive into a subterranean formation, the encapsulated additive comprising a treatment fluid additive at least partially encapsulated by an encapsulating material,
 wherein the encapsulated additive has a target release profile for release of the treatment fluid additive from the encapsulating material in a specific wellbore environment, and 
 wherein the encapsulating material is selected to achieve the target release profile, the target release profile being based on one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a target anisotropic pressure that is greater than both an injection anisotropic pressure and an injection isotropic pressure, 
 (2) an erosion number, 
 (3) a temperature-driven degradation, 
 (4) a pressure-driven degradation, 
 (5) an amphiphilic water dispersibility, 
 (6) an amphiphilic oil dispersibility, 
 (7) a chemical flood degradation, 
 (8) a water ingress value, and, 
 (9) a radiation-driven degradation. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising introducing the encapsulated additive into the subterranean formation in a treatment fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment fluid additive is an explosive particulate, a lubricant, a biocide, a hydrogen sulfide scavenger, a breaker, a proppant, an oxygen scavenger, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising spray coating the encapsulated material about an outer surface of the treatment fluid additive. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a tubular extending into the subterranean formation and a pump fluidically coupled to the tubular, the tubular containing the encapsulated additive. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 designing an encapsulated additive comprising a treatment fluid additive at least partially encapsulated by an encapsulating material,
 wherein the encapsulated additive has a target release profile for release of the treatment fluid additive from the encapsulating material in a specific wellbore environment; 
   selecting the encapsulating material to achieve the target release profile, the target release profile being based on one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of:
 (1) a target anisotropic pressure that is greater than both an injection anisotropic pressure and an injection isotropic pressure, 
 (2) an erosion number, 
 (3) a temperature-driven degradation, 
 (4) a pressure-driven degradation, 
 (5) an amphiphilic water dispersibility, 
 (6) an amphiphilic oil dispersibility, 
 (7) a chemical flood degradation, 
 (8) a water ingress value, and, 
 (9) a radiation-driven degradation; 
   introducing the encapsulated additive into a subterranean formation; and   releasing the treatment fluid additive from the encapsulating material in the subterranean formation based on the target release profile.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising introducing the encapsulated additive into the subterranean formation in a treatment fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the treatment fluid additive is an explosive particulate, a lubricant, a biocide, a hydrogen sulfide scavenger, a breaker, a proppant, an oxygen scavenger, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising spray coating the encapsulated material about an outer surface of the treatment fluid additive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a tubular extending into the subterranean formation and a pump fluidically coupled to the tubular, the tubular containing the encapsulated additive.